All Posts by alex dobie

Notorious phone leaker @evleaks has temporarily stepped out of retirement, presenting what might be our first proper look at two unannounced, high-end HTC phones — one of which may be the HTC One M9. Today's tweet, which shows two hitherto unseen handsets alongside leaks of the M8, M7 and the abandoned HTC Edge, strongly suggests these could be HTC's new flagship phones.

There are plenty of choices when it comes to protecting your Note from scratches and scrapes — M-Edge brings something different to the table
Like most major smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is backed up by a wide range of cases and other accessories. Many of them aim to blend in with the Note 4's original styling, but M-Edge's latest offering is a bit different, allowing you to choose...

There are a few reasons why you might want to factory reset your Nexus 6, reverting it back to its out-of-box condition. Maybe you've decided to sell your device. Perhaps you want to eliminate any problematic apps and start again from scratch. Whatever the reason, it's easy to clear out your apps, photos and other content and start again from scratch.

Problem lies with Google Messenger and APNs used by some carriers
Mobile communication might be shifting more towards data-based services all the time, but the humble text message (SMS) and multimedia message (MMS) aren't going away anytime soon. Both are vital functions of any smartphone, and so when one of them's not working on your device, it's no small deal. Recently we've discovered an...

Using Smart Lock on Android 5.0 is a great way to balance security and convenience, using a trusted location, Bluetooth device or NFC tag to bypass lock screen security without entering a PIN or lock pattern. However it's possible you might not want your phone completely unlocked all the time, which is why there's a simple way to manually lock your device — requiring your PIN, pattern or...

As the first rumors surrounding the Samsung Galaxy S6 start to swirl, we're beginning to hear the first hints of when we'll get to see the upcoming Samsung flagship. Today the Chosun Ilbo reports that like its predecessor a year ago, the Galaxy S6 will make its debut at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this March. Specifically, the Korean publication mentions March 2 as a possible launch date...

A few simple tips to get better shots from your Nexus 6's camera
Let's face it — Nexus devices aren't exactly renowned for their imaging prowess. Even with new additions like optical image stabilization (OIS) and HDR+ mode, the cameras of the Nexus 6 (and the Nexus 5 before it) are best described as finicky. It's possible to get great photos from the Nexus 6's 13-megapixel shooter with a...

Make the most of your Nexus's battery
Battery life is one of the areas of smartphone tech in which there's still much room for improvement. As a cutting edge handset, the Nexus 6 includes some of the latest developments in mobile tech — wireless charging, quick charging through the bundled Motorola Turbo Charger, and improvements on the software side thanks to Google's "Project Volta."...

HTC has sent out invites for a major launch on March 1 in Barcelona, just as Mobile World Congress gets underway. Naturally, this is where we're expecting to see the company's next big Android smartphone — the phone that may go by the name HTC One M9.

Why isn't Google updating WebView on Jelly Bean and earlier, and what does it mean?
A recent revelation that Google is no longer developing security patches for the "WebView" component of Android in Jelly Bean and earlier has once again put a spotlight on Android security, and the challenges involved with securing the one billion or so active devices. First revealed by Metasploit on Jan. 12,...

We bring you the inside look at the most mysterious timepiece of CES 2015
LG and Audi's smartwatch collaboration is the most desirable wearable of CES 2015, and while the carmaker says it's just a prototype, the device offers a tantalizing glimpse of future LG wearables. Or at worst an agonizing look at a beautiful watch we'd love to own.
We tracked down the Audi/LG watch — still officially...

You don't need to blow a fortune on a new vehicle to get to use Android Auto. A number of manufacturers, including Pioneer, are showing off aftermarket head units using Google's automotive software. Like previous Android Auto implementations, such as the early versions shown off at Google I/O, Pioneer's system lets you control your mobile world using your voice, or the built-in touch interface...

**Update Jan. 7: Turns out when we were told this watch was running a variation of Android Wear, that wasn't exactly correct. Check out our exclusive hands-on!
Update: We have confirmation from LG that this is an LG watch made for Audi, running a variation of Android Wear. LG is working on a webOS based wearable, but this is unrelated.*
At the Audi press conference at CES 2015 today, Audi...

... and Android 4.2
Standalone portable music players increasingly be seen as a thing of the past, but Sony's not willing to let go just yet. Today at CES 2015 the Japanese manufacturer unveiled the latest in its long line of Walkman products, the Walkman NW-ZX2. Focused on playback of high-definition music, the device aims to buck the trend towards smartphone and cloud-based music playback...

Sony commits to Android TV for its entire 2015 line, intros sets thinner than a smartphone
Today at CES 2015 in Las Vegas Sony revealed that its entire 2015 Bravia line will run Google's Android TV OS. Although Sony has been onboard with Android TV for some time, this commitment to the platform from an industry giant like Sony is a big deal. And following today's press conference we were...

It's been an eventful day here at CES 2015, and we're not done yet. At 5 p.m. PST today — 8 p.m. on the east coast — it's Sony's turn. The Japanese manufacturer has teased the arrival of a new Android 5.0 Lollipop device, but it's unclear what form this will take — phone, tablet, TV or something entirely different.
Whatever emerges, we'll be live from Las Vegas to bring you full coverage of...

A look at LG's latest curved handset next to its current flagship phone
With the launch of the G Flex 2, LG takes the core idea of the original G Flex and transforms it into a more compact, higher-end handset. Like the LG G3 — which LG says absolutely is not being replaced by this new device —the G Flex 2 sports a 5.5-inch display, making it more hand and pocket-friendly than its predecessor...

Following this morning's announcement at CES 2015 in Las Vegas, the LG G Flex 2 is officially official. You'll want to check out our full coverage of LG's latest curvy, flexible phone live from Las Vegas, however if you'd also like to just look at some pretty pictures, it's also worth checking out our huge G Flex 2 photo gallery. You'll find it right after the break.

It seems it's not just the Hangouts team doing something a little special to kick off 2015. Fire up the Google Calendar app today, go to "Schedule" view, and you'll be greeted by a full-width animation and fireworks to ring in the new year. Naturally, in true Material Design style, scrolling down collapses everything into a daytime scene, showing any appointments you might be unfortunate enough...

If you're looking to round off 2014 with a bargain, Vodafone UK has a deal that's worth a look. The carrier is selling its branded HTC One M8 on Pay As You Go for £289, well below the £350-400 you'll pay elsewhere for the handset. The device will likely be locked to Vodafone, but if you're already on that network — or have an easy way to SIM-unlock it — then this is a pretty good deal for one...

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